ABSTRACT. A number of glacial moraines are distributed from the eastern margin of the Torres del Paine drainage basin to near the present margin of the Patagonian Ice Fields, together with a set of regionally continuous lacustrine terraces related to glacial fluctuations. The geomorphology, supported by lake sediment evidence, indicates the existence of a single proglacial paleolake in this area, here referred to as the Great Tehuelche Paleolake. This concept helps to clarify the chronology of glacial events and leads to a better understanding of the evolution of the hydrologic system in the Torres del Paine area. Glacial advances previously referred to as A, B and C occurred during the Last Glacial Maximum and fed the Great Tehuelche Paleolake with meltwater, allowing it to reach its maximum extension. The discovery of thrombolites at Laguna Amarga suggests that the drainage of the paleolake towards the Última Esperanza Fjord took place at 7,113 Cal. yr BP, after the melting of an ice barrier that existed during the earlier glacial advance. This gave rise to the development of a complex fluvio-lacustrine hydrologic system that persists to the present day.

Milankovitch (1930) was the first to calculate the combined influence of the eccentricity (100,000 and 413,000 yr cycles), obliquity (41,000 yrs) and precession of the equinoxes (23,000 yrs) on the amount of solar heat recorded at different latitudes during the last million years. Many decades later, Davis and Bewer (2009) investigated an alternative forcing mechanism based on the role of latitudinal insolation and temperature gradients, to explain the propagation of orbital signatures throughout the climate system, including the monsoon cycle, Arctic oscillation and general ocean circulation.

Studies of stable oxygen isotopes of foraminifers preserved in sediment samples from the Indian Ocean suggest that climatic variations causing the retreat of the ice caps and a rising of sea level are supported by the orbital theory of Milankovitch (Imbrie et al, 1984). In ice cores obtained from Antarctica (EPICA, 2004) and Greenland (North Greenland Ice Core Project, 2004) it is also possible to observe these cycles as predicted by the orbital theory. However, in the ice cores short, irregular and abrupt interglacial stadia that cannot be explained by the orbital theory are also recorded. These short stadia are of almost the same magnitude as those related to glacial or interglacial periods at a 100,000 yr scale, but represent intervals of only hundreds of years (Dansgaard et al, 1993).

Good examples of such abrupt changes include the global warming after the Last Glacial Period and the subsequent glacial advance (Cold Reverse in Fig. 1). Different hypotheses, generally based on inter-hemispheric climate changes, exist to try and explain why these climate variations occurred on earth.

One line of hypotheses based on interhemispheric change postulates that changes in the Milankovitch insolation cycles (Imbrie et al, 1992) or ice rafting events (Bond et al, 1993; Macayeal, 1993; Bond and Lotti, 1995) could have produced variations in the density of the North Atlantic surface water, associated with changing temperature and glacial meltwater fluxes. These could have affected the turnover of the convection, thus linking ocean circulation between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres and modifying the patterns of global heat transfer to high latitudes. The hypothesis is partly supported by an analysis of oxygen isotopes from ice-sheet cores, which suggests that changes in Greenland may have preceded those in the Antarctic (Bender et al., 1994).

A second line of hypotheses based on ice cores from Antarctica (EPICA, 2004), and Greenland (North Greenland Ice Core Project, 2004), suggests that climate variations in the Southern Hemisphere trigger changes in the Northern Hemisphere. Comparison of the ice cores suggests that the warming tendency after the Last Glacial Period started first in Antarctica, from where it spread to Bolivia and then to Greenland (Fig. 1). In addition, the ice cores from Antarctica reveal an abrupt inversion event (the Antarctic Cold Reverse or ACR) before the equivalent Younger Dryas (YD) event of the Northern Hemisphere (Sowers and Bender, 1995; Blunier et al, 1998).

A third line of hypotheses maintains that climate changes occurred simultaneously in both hemispheres. Studies by Denton et al. (1999) in the Lake District of Chile and in New Zealand provided a temporal register of glacial fluctuations that indicates a glacial event simultaneous with the YD event of the North Atlantic region (Lowell et al., 1995; Denton et al, 1999). The good correlation between both sets of observations may indicate that the glacial-interglacial transition between both hemispheres occurred in phase. These conclusions are supported by evidence of events equivalent to the YD in Ecuador (Clapperton et al, 1997) and New Zealand (Denton and Hendy, 1994; Ivy-Ochs et al, 1999). An analysis of glaciers on the Taylor Dome and the Ross Sea Shelf in Antarctica (Steig et al, 1998) supports the hypothesis of simultaneous inter-hemispheric climate changes.

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Although the climate variability during the Holocene (after 11,500 yr BP) does not have the same magnitude as the abrupt climate change of the Last Glacial Period, it affected the growth and development of modern civilization. According to Denton and Karlen (1973) glacier fluctuations can be identified at 9,000-8,000, 6,000-5,000, 4,200-3,800, 3,500-2,500, and 1,200-1,000 yrs, and also since 600 yr BP (grey bands in Fig. 1). Mayewsky et al. (2004) examined about 50 globally distributed paleoclimate records that validated the six periods of significant Holocene rapid climate change (HRCC). Most of the climate change events in these globally distributed records are characterized by polar cooling, tropical aridity, and major atmospheric circulation changes, although during the most recent interval (600-150 yr BP), polar cooling was accompanied by increased moisture in some parts of the tropics.

In this paper we examine climate changes in Chilean Patagonia during the Last Glacial Maximum and Holocene, in order to contribute to the evaluation of the different scenarios outlined above.

2. Glaciation in Patagonia

During the Pleistocene, the western part of southernmost South America was buried beneath a thick ice cap, vestiges of which remain in the form of large ice fields in Patagonia (Heusser, 1990, 2003; Heusser et al., 1995). Presently, the Northern Patagonian Ice Field (NPI) lies between about 46° and 48°S, whereas the Southern Patagonian Ice Field (SPI) stretches from the southern shores of the Baker Channel almost to Puerto Natales at about 51°S.

The chronology of Patagonian glaciations is among the most complete in the world and our understanding of the different glaciation periods has made significant progress in the past decade, following the pioneering work of Caldenius (1932), Mercer (1976), Rabassa and Clapperton 1990), Clapperton (1993), Glasser and Jansson (2008) and Glasser et al. (2008). Rabassa et al. (2005) synthesized the existing knowledge of the chronology of the Late Cenozoic Patagonian glaciations: the oldest known glaciations took place between approximately 7 and 5 Ma (latest Miocene-earliest Pliocene; Lagabrielle et al., 2010), while during the middle-late Pliocene, a minimum of 8 glaciations occurred (Oxygen Isotopic Stages 54-82). The Great Patagonian Glaciations (GPG) developed between 1,168 and 1,016 Ma (Oxygen Isotopic Stages: 30-34; early Pleistocene), followed by 14-16 cold (glacial/stadial) events with their corresponding warm (interglacial/interstadial) equivalents. Thirteen post-GPG moraines have been identified.

According to McCulloch et al. (2000), degla-ciation of the LGM occurred synchronously at 14,600-14,300 14C yr BP (17,500-17,150 Cal yr BP). Moreno et al. (2009) concluded that the maximum phase of the southwestern Patagonian readvance (about 14.8-12.6 ka) coincided with the Antarctic Cold Reverse in the European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica (EPICA) Dome C record (Stenni et al., 2003) and that the results differ markedly from those reported for northwestern Patagonia (~40°S) (Moreno et al., 2001; Hajdas et al, 2003), where moderate cooling between 14.6 and 13.5 ka was followed by an intensification that lasted until about 11.5 ka. A warming step occurred at about 10,000 14C yr BP (11,400 Cal yr BP) throughout Patagonia, achieving Holocene temperature levels.

Glasser et al. (2004) undertook a major revision of the Holocene, mentioning two types of Neogla-cial advance, namely the 'Mercer' and 'Aniya' type chronology. Mercer (1968, 1970, 1982) proposed three Neoglacial advances: at 4,700-4,200 14C yr BP (5,413-4,687 Cal yr BP), at 2,700-2,000 14C yr BP (2,758-1,893 Cal yr BP) and during the Little Ice Age (LIA) of the last three centuries. Aniya (1995, 1996) later obtained radiocarbon dates from moraines on the eastern side of the Southern Patagonian Ice

The Patagonian Ice Field fluctuation in the southern part of South America has considerable potential to contribute to the debate on inter-hemispheric climate change. The existence of the Patagonian Ice Field in a temperate, low latitude zone at an average elevation of only about 2,000 m a.s.l., can be explained by the high rainfall resulting from the predominantly westerly winds and frontal systems (Ibarzabal et al., 1996; Carrasco et al., 1998, 2002). Therefore, deciphering the glacial fluctuations of the Patagonian Ice Field and the evolution of the hydrological system around their margins are key factors to understanding the fluctuation of the Westerlies and their relationship with global climatic events.

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3. Study area

The study area is defined by the Torres del Paine Drainage Basin (TPDB), covering an area of 8,767 km2 and enclosing a complex hydrological system (Solari et al, 2010).

On the western side of the TPDB, meltwater from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field lobes developed a system composed of proglacial lakes feeding various rivers. The Paine River flows into Lago Nordenskjöld, which in turn drains into Lago Pehoe and then into Lago del Toro. The main outlet of Lago del Toro is the Serrano River. The Grey River links up with the Serrano River that flows into the Última Esperanza Fjord (Fig. 2).

The TPDB as a whole had two possible outlets in the past, the first being along the Serrano River into the Última Esperanza Fjord, and the second along the Lago Porteño Valley.

Forming the eastern boundary of the TPDB as well as east of the Baguales and Cazador Ranges are widespread terminal moraines with multiple ridges, providing evidence of older glacial events in the Torres del Paine area.

Marden (1993) mapped the glacial landscape of the Torres del Paine district and determined 8 glacial stages (labelled from west to east: A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H) from the Grey and Tyndall Glaciers to the recent terminal moraines along the coastline of Lago Sarmiento.

Cosmogenic 10Be dating of erratics from the D moraine indicates a short-lived re-advance of Patagonian ice culminating at 12.6-14.8 kyr BP, coincident with the time of the Antarctic Cold Reverse (Fogwill and Kubik, 2005; Moreno et al., 2009). The radiocarbon age of Glacial Advance E is 9,755±95 14C yr BP, based on dating of the basal part of a peat bog occurring within its limits (Marden and Clapperton, 1995). Two minimum radiocarbon ages for Advance F were obtained: 8,750±170 14C yr BP from basal organic bog sediments inside the moraine limits (Marden and Clapperton, 1995) and 9,180±14C yr BP obtained from basal organic sediments close to the inferred advance limits (Stern, 1990). An age control for Advance G has not been obtained, but it may be correlated with the Patagonian Neoglacial advances (Glasser et al., 2004). The age of Advance H was determined by studying the annual ring patterns of trees that colonised the moraines in the vicinity of Grey Glacier (Armesto et al., 1992). The age of the oldest tree (Nothofagus pumilio) was estimated at 232 yr, and it appears that the most extensive phase of Advance H at the Grey Glacier culminated at 1,600-1,700 AD, apparently being associated with the Little Ice Age (Marden and Clapperton, 1995).

Following Marden's (1993) study that defines the margins of the different glacial events in the Torres del Paine area, this paper aims to decipher part of the evolution of the hydrological system related to glacial fluctuation.

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4. Methodology

During five separate field excursions we mapped the geomorphology and distribution of Quaternary deposits at a scale of1:10,000, which was supplemented by the analysis of the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission Digital Elevation Model (SRTM DEM ) data (USGS, 2000) and aerial photographs. We also described and measured stratigraphic columns and collected samples for radiocarbon dating. Topographic elevations were determined using a handheld GPS with barometric altimeter.

The radiocarbon ages were determined using a 0.5 MeV accelerator mass spectrometer at the Center for Applied Isotope Studies at the University of Georgia, which was calibrated with the software Calib 5.01 (Stuiver et al., 2005). For ages younger than 11 14C kyr BP calibration was in accordance with the Southern Hemisphere (McCormac et al., 2004) calibration curve and for ages older than 11 14C kyr BP it conformed to the Northern Hemisphere calibration curves (Reimer et al., 2004). Organic soil was collected in high density plastic bags at a depth of 10 cm below the surface. The δ 13C values of the soil samples collected in glacial lake deposits are between -23.52 y -25.1%o δ13CPDB, which are consistent with the C3 land plant signature (Meyers, 1994). This suggests that the organic matter was derived from plants in the surrounding areas of the lake and that a reservoir effect does not exist.

In addition, radiocarbon ages were determined for trapped gastropod shells collected at a depth of about 7 cm in the external crust of the thrombolites, to prevent superficial contamination. The thombolites had been forming when the lake was closed, so that a reservoir effect produced by glacial meltwater is unlikely. However, the gastropods could potentially have a reservoir effect produced by dissolved, older carbonates from groundwater inflow.

5. Paleolacustrine levels

5.1. Terraces between Lago Sarmiento and Laguna Amarga

Lago Sarmiento is an elliptical, closed basin with a surface area of 86.2 km2 and a shoreline of 78.3 km, lying at an elevation of 75 m a.s.l. We recognized four terraces that in some areas eroded the Cerro Toro Formation and in others are covered by regolith. Terraces S1, S2, T3 and T4 range in elevation between 85-90, 105-110, 120-130, and 138-145 m a.s.l., respectively (Fig. 3). Terraces T4 and T3 were not observed along the eastern shore of the lake (Fig. 4), occurring mainly on its northern and western slopes (Fig. 5). These terraces were also observed east of moraine E but not west thereof. Terraces S2 and S1 are present at Lago Sarmiento Chico. A watershed at 86 m a.s.l between Lago Sarmiento and Lago Sarmiento Chico (Fig. 5b) can also be observed. On the western side of Lago Sarmiento Chico an outlet of the paleolake was developed at the S2 level (Fig. 4).

FIG. 3. Terraces along shores of Lago Sarmiento..

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FIG. 4. Aerial photograph of the eastern area of Lago Sarmiento showing the mapped paleo-lacustrine terraces and the legend for figures 5, 6 and 7.

The S1 Terrace (85-90 m a.s.l) is underlain by approximately 8 m (from the lake level at about 77 m a.s.l) of carbonate deposits developed along almost the full extent of the coastline. These microbialite deposits are composed of sand, aragonitic gastropod shells and filamentous cyanobacteria enclosed by a clotted structure of calcite. The clotted structure, observed at field, hand sample and microscopic scale, define these bioherms as thrombolites. Gastropods shells collected from the top level (about 83 m a.s.l) at a depth of 7 cm within the external crust of the thrombolites, yielded a median probability radiocarbon age of 1,215 Cal yr BP (1,341±52 14C yr BP) and represent an age reflecting the end of growth and precipitation at this level (Solari et al., 2010).

In the sector of Laguna Paso a lacustrine paleo-passage between the Lago Sarmiento and Nordenskjöld Basins can be observed at 115 m a.s.l, the upper limit of which is marked by the continuation of the T4 and T3 Terraces observed on the eastern and western slopes of Laguna Paso (Fig. 5c). It is possible to trace the S2 and S1 Terraces uninterruptedly around Lago Sarmiento, but they do not continue northward into the Laguna Paso passage (Fig. 4). At a 115 m a.s.l watershed present in the Laguna Paso passage only the T3 and T4 Terraces are observed.

FIG. 5. Aerial photograph showing the mapped paleo-lacustrine terraces: a. Central part of Lago Sarmiento; b. Western part of Lago Sarmiento and southern margin of Lago Nordenskjöld; c. Magnification of the watershed in the Laguna Paso passage.

Terraces T4 and T3 represent an old proglacial lake level developed by meltwater from Glacial Advance E. These levels are observed at the 115 m a.s.l watershed and continue eastward into Lago Nordenskjöld. Terraces S2 and S1 delineate a single paleolake that included both Lago Sarmiento Chico and Lago Sarmiento. This paleolake drained westward into Lago Pehoe and the 86 m a.s.l watershed between Lago Sarmiento Chico and Lago Sarmiento indicates the elevation where this paleolake was formed and closed by at least 1,215 Cal yr BP.

Terraces T4 and T3 continue northward from Laguna Paso to the eastern shore of Laguna Visión del Mundo. They also stretch eastward to the southern shore of Lago Nordenskjöld, but can hardly be discerned along its northern shore (Figs. 4 and 5a).

Terraces T3 and T4 continue from Lago Nor-denskjöld eastward to the southern paleo-lobes of Moraine Complex D. The T4 Terrace was observed on both flanks of the Paine River valley and eroded the northern paleo-lobe moraine of the D Glacial Re-advance. Terrace T5 (150 to 155 m a.s.l), was recognised east of Moraine Complex D (Fig. 6). Furthermore, at the margin of Moraine Complex D north of the Paine Waterfall, deformed lacustrine deposits are in contact with diamictic moraine deposits, which indicates that the D Re-advance terminated in a proglacial lake.

Terraces T3 to T5 are regional levels and Terraces A1 to A4 are local levels that formed when the water level dropped below the watershed between Laguna Amarga and the Paine River at 120 m a.s.l, when the lake became closed. In the Laguna Amarga Peninsula below Terrace T3, a group of thrombolites are present with an internal clotted structure formed by calcite and gastropods. The latter yielded a median probability radiocarbon age of 7,113 Cal yr BP and represent the time when the water level dropped below the T3 elevation (<120 m a.s.l).

5.2. Terraces around Lago del Toro

The surface of Lago del Toro is at an elevation of about 25 m a.s.l., covering an area of 195.1 km2 and occupying a deep asymmetric basin south of the Toro Mountain Range. Well-developed terminal moraines were mapped along the eastern margin of Lago del Toro (Fig. 7). The Peninsula and Ballena Ranges divided the ice sheets into three main lobes, namely the Lago del Toro, Bahía Bote and Lago Porteño lobes. Due to the fact that the regional Terrace T5 related to Glacial Advance D (12,000-15,000 yr BP) was observed in the terminal moraines on the northern slopes of the Ballena Range, it can be deduced that the western moraine ridges of Lago del Toro are correlated with Moraine Complex C exposed at Lago Sarmiento.

In the Lago del Toro lobe, Moraine Complex A reaches 120 m a.s.l and is composed of two well-defined ridges with boulders on their surface. Moraine Complex B has a maximum elevation of 90 m a.s.l and shows at least three main ridges. Moraine Complex C attains an elevation of 100 m a.s.l and is composed of two main ridges. On an island within Lago del Toro a terminal moraine occurs that reaches 65 m a.s.l and is correlated with Glacial Advance D.

East of Lago del Toro terminal moraines are present on three levels of terraces with a regional extent. The highest of these (T6) lies at an elevation of 240 to 260 m a.s.l. and is always located east of Moraine Complex A. It is very well preserved at the western limit of Cazador Range (Fig. 8) and in the northern sector of the Rogers Range. Above level T6 are whaleback structures which indicate glacial action predating the formation of the T6 Terrace. These older glacial events are probably related to the terminal moraines mapped at the source of the Don Guillermo River (Fig. 2).

FIG. 8. Terrace levels observed in the Toro Range, as well as peninsulas extending into Lago del Toro.

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Terrace T5, previously described in the Laguna Amarga sector and linked to Glacial Advance D, is present on both sides of the Tres Pasos River and the Tres Pasos moraine. This terrace is again observed north of Lago Figueroa on the eastern flank of the Jorge Montt Range, where it occurs at an elevation between 150 and 165 m a.s.l. It is particularly well preserved at the foot of the western slopes of the Rogers Range.

Terrace T4 lies at an elevation between 135 and 145 m a.s.l. At the foot of the Cazador Range, this terrace extends from near the town of Cerro Castillo to the extreme northern part of the range. Along the northern shore of Lago del Toro it forms small peninsulas extending into the lake. In front of the CONAF Administration Building, T4 is also observed immediately southeast of Glacial Advance E, from where it disappears towards the west.

6. Sedimentary deposits

6.1. Fluvial deposits

The activity of the Las Chinas, Baguales and Don Guillermo Rivers during part of the Holocene eroded the underlying strata (Cerro Toro, Río Baguales and other formations) and in their meandering sectors formed wide alluvial plains with silt and fine to medium sand deposits. However, in their upper reaches these rivers transport gravels and cobbles included in a fine to coarse, arenaceous matrix.

6.2. Lacustrine deposits

Lacustrine deposits recognized west of the Cazador Range add new evidence about the existence of an extensive lake to the east of the terminal moraines. These poorly consolidated deposits are composed of a finely stratified succession of sandstones and siltstones with dropstones and occasional load structures. The light to dark grey sandstone beds are fine to coarse, with planar and trough cross-stratification (troughs reaching up to 40 cm in width), sub-horizontal stratification or massive bedding. They frequently contain siltstone lenses. The siltstone beds are white or light grey to light brown, finely laminated or massive, and contain occasional sandstone lenses.

6.3. Fluvio-lacustrine deposits

Between the Baguales and Cazador Ranges fluvio-lacustrine deposits were recognized, especially in drainage channels near the confluence of the Las Chinas and Baguales Rivers (locality 2 in Fig. 9). Here profiles up to 4 m thick are exposed, which consist of (from bottom to top):

- Clast-supported gravels with an arenaceous matrix. The polymictic clasts (lavas, sandstones, etc.), which vary between 1 and 90 cm in diameter, are rounded with a median sphericity and poor sorting.

FIG. 9. Sedimentary deposits east of the moraine complexes of Lago del Toro and Lago Sarmiento. The numbers indicate the localities where sedimentary units are described..

6.4. Glacio-fluvio-lacustrine deposits at El Canal

In the El Canal drainage channel, located on the eastern side of Lago del Toro (location 3 in Fig. 9), lacustrine, glacial and fluvial deposits discordantly overlie the Cretaceous marine deposits of the Cerro Toro Formation. A generalized column for these deposits shows that they are composed (from base to the top) of the following units (nomenclature from Eyles et al., 1983):

• Dcm1: A well-consolidated, clast- to matrix-supported basal moraine up to 4.2 m thick. The clasts are polymictic (including sandstone clasts of the underlying Cerro Toro Formation) and angular with poor sphericity, reaching up to 1 m in diameter, whereas the matrix is composed of white silt.

• Fl: A lacustrine succession generally more than 10 m thick, well exposed over the whole length of the channel. It is composed of white to grey silts and laminated sands, frequently varved, with wave ripples. Within the laminated strata are dark brown silts with a high organic matter content (Fig. 10), that have been radiocarbon-dated at 18,100±100 14C yr BP (21,493 Cal yr BP). Along El Canal a shear stress zone showing contorted, laminated or wave-rippled silt to silty clay units also occurs.

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The lacustrine succession displays a variety of subglacial deformation structures, which include and are concentrated along two major thrust faults dipping westward and occurring below the terminal ridges of the C and B Moraine Complexes. Smaller-scale deformation structures include contorted laminated or wave-rippled silt to silty clay, recumbent folds in fine to very fine sandstone beds, and low- to steep-angled reverse faults with cm-scale displacement. Such structures are common features in glacial deposits, resulting from the shear stress induced by the glaciers as they advance over previously deposited glacial strata (e.g., Boulton and Hindmarsh, 1987; Alley, 1991).

Within the lacustrine succession two delta deposits are recognised, one overlying the other conformably. The lower delta was dated in its uppermost beds at 20,300±110 14C yr BP (24,291 Cal yr Bp) and shows foresets onlapping towards the west, whereas the upper delta foresets onlap towards the east. The latter is interpreted to have formed by currents migrating from the Cazador Range sector towards Lago del Toro, as a result of the glacial retreat. On the other hand, the upper delta foresets are interpreted as a product of current migration towards the east in response to a glacial advance after 24,291 Cal yr BP.

• Dcm2: Basal moraine deposits unconformably overlying the lacustrine succession (Fig. 10) are composed of clast- to matrix-supported gravels. The matrix is composed of white to grey silt, whereas the polymictic clasts are angular to subangular with a medium sphericity and poor sorting. They vary from millimeters to meters in diameter, some showing facets and striations. The deposits are linked to Glacial Advances A, B and C and dating shows that they are less than but close to 21,493 Cal yr BP. It seems very likely that the glacial advances occurred during the Last Glacial Maximum.

• Sm: Alluvial deposits unconformably overlie the basal moraine and are composed of brown, massive, fine-grained sands with plant roots. They have between 3% and 6% polymicitic clasts varying in size between 7 cm and 3 mm, which are subrounded with a poor sphericity, generally forming subhori-zontal flat pebbles. Within these deposits are bone fragments of Lamae guanicoe, one of which was dated at 240±30 14C yr BP, or a calibrated age of 200 Cal yr BP.

• Gmm: Flood deposits unconformably overlie the alluvial deposits. They are composed of gravels with matrix-supported cobbles. These poorly sorted deposits are massive with a white to brown matrix. Clasts vary in concentration between 5 and 40% and are subrounded and polymictic, with sizes ranging between 0.5 and 45 cm, but clasts derived directly from erosion of the underlying strata are between 25 cm and 330 cm in diameter. Tree bark fragments up to 40 cm long, as well as scarce clasts of travertine up to 10 cm long were also encountered. A piece of tree bark was dated at 391±30 14C yr BP, or a calibrated age of 200 Cal yr BP. This unit is interpreted as having been produced during a major flooding of the Las Chinas River.

7. Discussion and Conclusions

Evidence for older glacial events is provided by the terminal moraine located along the eastern boundary of the TPDB and in the Tres Pasos River area, as well as the consolidated basal moraine deposits that discordantly overlie the Cerro Toro Formation in the El Canal area. These moraine complexes were formed prior to the LGM and further investigation will be necessary to determine whether they developed during the MIS 6 and/or during the Great Patagonian Glaciations (early Pleistocene) as in Lago Buenos Aires (e.g., Ton-That et al., 1999; Singer et al., 2004).

Based on their lateral continuation and location east of the terminal moraines of Glacial Stages E, D, C, B and A, four important, regionally extensive terrace levels are recognized, namely T6, T5, T4 and T3 (Fig. 11). These observations support the existence of a single proglacial water body, which we call the Great Tehuelche Paleolake (GTP). This paleolake formed between the glacial mass and the topographic rise at the eastern margin of the TPDB. The Great Tehuelche Paleolake had an outlet towards the south along the Prat Valley between the Arturo Prat and Manuel Señoret Mountain Ranges.

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During the LGM, the GTP received extensive deposits and formed the highest paleolake level described so far in the area. The T6 level varies in elevation between 240-260 m a.s.l and formed before and during Glacial Advances C, B and A (Fig. 11). In the sector of El Canal, the eastward change in progradation of the upper delta is interpreted as reflecting the beginning of glacial advance after 24,291 Cal yr BP. Moraine Complex B developed at the eastern margin of Lago del Toro after 21,493 Cal yr BP, as evidenced by the intensive deformation that affected the lacustrine succession below the basal till. Glacial Advance C was stable until about 17,500 yr BP, at which moment widespread deglaciation commenced in Patagonia. The T6 Terrace indicates an episode during which the Great Tehuelche Paleolake reached its maximum extent during the LGM, and its level varied as a function of the glacial fluctuation (Fig. 12).

A new phase of the Great Tehuelche Paleolake developed at 12,600-14,800 yr BP during Glacial Re-advance D, at an altitude of 150-165 m a.s.l. The regional Terrace T5 on the northern flank of the Ballena Range extends west of the moraine ridges on the eastern shore of Lago del Toro and also formed a moraine ridge on an island within this lake, so that the position of the terminal moraines of Glacial Advance D in this sector can be inferred to have been within Lago del Toro.

Terraces T4 and T3 are widespread in the area and are always observed east of Glacial Advance E, at an altitude that varies between 135-145 and 120-130 m a.s.l., respectively. They represent ancient proglacial lake levels, eroded mainly by meltwater from Glacial Advance E and forming the last stage of the GTP prior to its cessation by drainage (Fig. 12). When the water level of the GTP dropped below the T3 elevation (<120 m a.s.l.), Laguna Amarga became a closed lake with growing thrombolites that trapped gastropods dated at 7,113 Cal yr BP. This moment in time represents the retreat of Glacial Advance E and the restructuring of the GTP as a group of small lakes similar to the present configuration, as a result of the opening of a new lake outlet that drained towards the Última Esperanza Fjord (Fig. 12). From this time on Laguna Amarga was a closed lake and the salinity of the lake increased because evaporation exceeded precipitation, enough to support the growth of thrombolites. A possible explanation for this salinity increase is that the glacial retreat was caused by reduced precipitation, i.e., more arid conditions prevailed.

We conclude that Glacial Advances E and F are younger than the ages previously proposed by Marden and Clapperton (1995). Glacial Advance E culminated before 7,113 Cal yr BP, which approximates the glacial maximum of 8.5±0.7 kyr (10Be) dated by Douglas et al. (2006) in the Fachinal Moraine located at Lago General Carrera. However, it will be necessary to gather more regional evidence in Patagonia to establish a definite correlation with the 8,000-9,000 yr BP Northern Hemisphere cool interval. If this proves to be the case, it would support the idea that in this period the climatic changes were synchronous in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Glacial Advance F is younger than 7,113 Cal yr BP and is probably synchronous with the older Neoglacial 'Mercer' type chronology, but further dating is necessary to assign a definite age to this glacial event.

The magnitude and position of the Westerlies is controlled by the subpolar low-pressure belt and the Southeast Pacific Anticyclone, potentially affecting both high-(southern) latitude and tropical Pacific forcing mechanisms (Cerveny, 1998). Supporting the hypothesis of Toggweiler and Russell (2008) derived from the oceanic registers, the delay recorded in the Lake District of south-central Chile with respect to the synchronous cold event in Antarctica and Torres del Paine (Fig. 11), could be explained by a modification of the Westerlies caused by the strengthening of the Tropical Easterlies and the northward expansion of the subpolar low-pressure belt. Strengthening of the Tropical Easterlies is supported by an increase in summer precipitation from 14-11 k cal. yr BP in the Atacama Desert, as interpreted from pollen evidence by Maldonado et al. (2005). Lamy et al. (2004) also interpreted a northward displacement of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) during the Cold Reverse Period (closely following upon the YD event), detected at site 1233 in the Los Lagos District.

Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge financial support by the Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (CONICYT) and the Project 'Geological Connection between the Antarctic Peninsula and Patagonia' (ARTG-04) supported by the Programa Bicentenario de Ciencia y Tecnología (PBCT) of CONICYT and the Instituto Antártico Chileno (INACH). Thanks are also due to the Corporación Nacional Forestal (CONAF) for field support, in particular to the rangers. We would also like to thank D. Nieto for field support. Three anonymous referees and the editor provided very useful comments that helped us to improve this paper.